As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, the urgency to accelerate climate action across Africa has never been clearer. Yet, amid global discussions on emissions targets, adaptation goals, and climate finance, one question continues to surface: How do we ensure that Africa’s green transition is inclusive, just, and locally grounded?
At the heart of this question lies the work of the Shaping Inclusive Transitions (SIT) Initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at bridging the gap between national climate ambitions and the lived realities of local communities. Through participatory research and community dialogues in regions such as Mpumalanga, the SIT Initiative is helping to surface local priorities and create pathways for a more equitable transition to a green economy.
Community Voices as Catalysts for Change
In places like Mpumalanga, South Africa’s coal heartland, where mining and coal-fired power generation have long been the backbone of the local economy, the transition away from coal poses significant challenges. Estimates suggest that by 2030, around 48,500 jobs connected to power plants and associated mines may be lost, with up to 120,000 jobs ultimately at risk as the energy system shifts. Communities in these regions are already confronting the social and economic implications of this shift. Through the SIT Initiative’s dialogues, residents are highlighting both the risks and the opportunities such as retraining, diversification, green enterprise development, and renewable energy investment. These conversations affirm a crucial insight: local knowledge and participation are essential for a just and inclusive transition.
Bridging the Gap Between Community Priorities and Climate Finance
While Africa continues to advocate for increased climate finance, the continent faces a staggering funding gap. To meet its climate and development goals, Africa requires around USD 2.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030 roughly USD 277 billion per year to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. However, the continent receives just 12-15% percent of what is required.
Moreover, only about 10% of climate finance originates from domestic sources, with private sector actors providing the majority of that share. Adaptation finance has grown from approximately USD 6.3 billion in 2017 to USD 14.8 billion in 2023, but this remains far below the amount needed for adaptation across Africa. The mismatch between financial flows and on-the-ground needs illustrates why inclusive, locally anchored financing mechanisms are essential. Climate funds and green investment strategies must align not only with national targets but also with community-defined priorities if Africa’s transition is to be equitable and effective.
Lessons for the Road to COP30
As African negotiators prepare for COP30, they carry with them the collective aspirations of millions seeking a fairer and more inclusive green future. The lessons emerging from the SIT dialogues underscore that climate justice must begin at the local level. Transition policies must reflect the lived experiences of communities most affected by environmental and economic change. Equally, investment in people is as vital as investment in infrastructure. With tens of thousands of jobs at risk in coal-dependent provinces like Mpumalanga, there is a pressing need to prioritise reskilling, education, and green enterprise development to ensure that no one is left behind.
Finally, the road to COP30 demands a transformation in how climate finance is structured and delivered. Financing must be accessible, flexible, and equity-driven, focusing not only on large-scale infrastructure but also on the small enterprises, cooperatives, and local innovators driving community-level transformation. This is where initiatives such as SIT can play a critical role in connecting high-level policy ambitions to the voices and needs of ordinary people.
Towards a People-Centred Green Economy
Africa’s green transition cannot be imported; it must be co-created through collaboration between communities, local governments, and entrepreneurs who understand their ecosystems best. The SIT Initiative exemplifies how participatory approaches can turn climate commitments into tangible social and economic outcomes. As the global community looks to Brazil for COP30, Africa has an opportunity to champion a message that resonates worldwide: a just and inclusive transition is the only transition that will last.
By centring community voices, promoting equitable finance, and investing in people’s potential, Africa can demonstrate that the path to net zero is also a path to shared prosperity and sustainable livelihoods.
Call to Action
Now is the time for governments, investors, and civil society to work together to amplify local innovations and channel climate finance towards inclusive solutions.
- Policymakers should ensure that national transition frameworks and incentive schemes are informed by community input and accessible to small-scale actors.
- Investors must scale up blended and concessional finance, prioritising adaptation and community-led initiatives in underserved regions.
- Donors and multilateral bodies should reshape climate finance architecture so that more resources flow directly to frontline communities rather than large-scale intermediaries.
- Research and advocacy organisations, like AfriCGE through the SIT Initiative, must continue bridging the gap between policy and practice ensuring that Africa’s green economy is driven by its people, for its people.
